Honda faces reliability race

The Japanese manufacturer has introduced a brand new engine that is lighter, smaller and has a lower centre of gravity - but the power-unit has yet to complete the benchmark 1,000km that will become necessary this year.

New regulations stipulate that engines must last through two race weekends, approximately 1,300km. A source close to Honda confirmed at the launch of the new car in Barcelona, that it has been changing units after 800km of running.

"The new regulations for 2005 set us an even greater challenge than we
faced for 2004, when we produced a top class Formula 1 engine," said
Takeo Kiuchi, Honda F1's Project leader. "This year we have concentrated on three areas.

"We have made the engine more compact and lowered the centre of gravity to improve the performance of the overall package. We have increased mid to low-speed torque to improve acceleration at the start and exiting corners. Finally - this is our biggest challenge - we are aiming to maintain top power despite the new regulations."

All of the BAR-Honda's internals are manufactured by the team and the engine maker at the team's base in Brackley, including the team's revolutionary all carbon-fibre gearbox which proved one of the team's strengths in 2004.

Technical director Geoff Willis revealed that development had continued on the gearbox and that although work is still needed to improve its downshift, the upshift is more effective than Ferrari's. "We believe that it is much more sophisticated thing than other teams have."